Nothing has changed - they are still taking the pee out of the public!

Biggins

Nothing has changed - they are still taking the pee out of the public!
While they were actually OFF on their holidays from the Dail, our TD's on ALL sides racked up millions in expense claims!

With a joke of a clock-in system at the Dail (they don't have to clock out!!!) and others can clock in for an another - its a further insult to the intelligence to the Irish people!

They are 'living in a parallel universe' and lack 'moral authority', says leading economist
THE nation's TDs received over €2.3m in expenses payments between June and September, despite the Dail's 12-week break, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Figures published by the Houses of the Oireachtas showed that between the beginning of June and the end of September, members claimed €2,303,138, in total, between them -- even though the Dail rose on July 8 and only returned on September 29. The figures also showed that despite there being no committee hearings in August, as well as no Dail sittings, the 163 members of the lower house claimed €575,000 in expenses during the month.

...Mr Sheehan recently resigned as his party's deputy spokesman on agriculture, after the Sunday Independent revealed that he was involved in a drunken incident with a female garda who claimed he threatened her.
"I have no comment other than to say I am the furthest TD from the Dail and the closest to the White House. You would want to cop on. . ."

The next two highest claimants were independent Jackie Healy Rae and Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley, who each received €20,932 in expenses payments. Both face round trips of over 700kms from their homes to the Dail. (Even though it was closed!!!)

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tds-euro23m-in-summer-expenses-2372912.html

* http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/750/pageonesmall.jpg

* http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7043/pageonecontinuedsmall.jpg

* http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3288/pagetwosm.jpg

A nice wad of money to claim (On top of already MASSIVE wages) for ones holidays!

Joey the lips

Yes i have to say i read this today and it pee;d me off. I can accept like teachers they get paid when off but to actually get expenses etc... It seems to me these people see there wages as a basic and expenses as commission.

I really cannot see a need any more for a upper house I actually think we should do away with the senate....

The sad thing about these expenses is fine gael cant even complain as they are listed as the highest.

galwayrush

Name and Shame . I hope people take note of things like this and not ever vote for the cheating scumbags again. Is that too much to ask?

starbelgrade

Ah come on Biggins. You don't actually expect them to pay for their foreign holidays out of their own pockets, do you?

Guy:Incognito

galwayrush wrote: »

Name and Shame . I hope people take note of things like this and not ever vote for the cheating scumbags again. Is that too much to ask?

Name and Shame? It was all the parties so theres no one left to vote for

th3 s1aught3r

galwayrush wrote: »

Name and Shame . I hope people take note of things like this and not ever vote for the cheating scumbags again. Is that too much to ask?

I think the Sunday Indo had a list of some of the perpetrators
Apparently that Kerry cap wearing gombeen had a load of expenses

Biggins

starbelgrade wrote: »

Ah come on Biggins. You don't actually expect them to pay for their foreign holidays out of their own pockets, do you?

True, we still have one non-tax compliant sod (Bertie) in the Dail and another who though he could fly between his home in Ireland, London, Nice, Cannes Film Festival and the English races while supposedly doing his job in the Dail ...and thats only two!

starbelgrade

galwayrush wrote: »

Name and Shame . I hope people take note of things like this and not ever vote for the cheating scumbags again. Is that too much to ask?

All expenses taken by members of the Dail & Seanad are now published monthly on the Oireachtas website. Most of them are still unvouched for.

Biggins

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

I think the Sunday Indo had a list of some of the perpetrators
Apparently that Kerry cap wearing gombeen had a load of expenses

Right-hand side!
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3288/pagetwosm.jpg

galwayrush

Stekelly wrote: »

Name and Shame? It was all the parties so theres no one left to vote for

Time for something new then. Honestly, i doubt if things will ever change, too many gob****e sheep will vote for the incompetent cheats anyways.

Guy:Incognito

At least PJ Sheehan is being consistant: (from the article about him and the Garda)

"After emerging, last year, as the TD claiming the largest amount of expenses, PJ Sheehan said, “somebody has to come out on top of the list.”

He's a busy man, Gards wont threaten themselves

Guy:Incognito

galwayrush wrote: »

Time for something new then. .

Do you honestly think any new party wont be claiming expenses like this? It's possible they might not for a few years while running on the moral high ground ticket but once they settle in to life in politics, normal service will resume.

th3 s1aught3r

ARE THESE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR WITH RECEIPTS ?

gizmo

I'm guessing they're just including the receipts from every time they buy petrol. Nothing else could explain how their expenses during the Dail break could match those when it's in session.

orourkeda

I admire their stones (in the metaphorical sense of course)

You just have to stand back and applaud their complete inhibition when it comes to the stroke. Truly awe inspiring.

Revolution9

Actually suprised they're brave enough to do this in the midst of our crumbling economy and the general anger directed at them from the public everyday.

The wonders never cease with these crooks.

starbelgrade

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

ARE THESE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR WITH RECEIPTS ?

Yes.

Biggins

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

ARE THESE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR WITH RECEIPTS ?

They are allowed to claim with having to produce receipts up to a certain figure.
Once they go over that figure, supposedly they have to produce the paperwork - like I would honestly trust their paperwork anyway is Calley is anything to go by!

I suspect that O'Rea and co have just managed to claim just by coincidence :rolleyes: just under the proper amount before they are supposed to produce the supposed receipts.

They know how to play the game well in the Dail when it come to their own ways of raking it in.

Biggins

A new travel and accommodation allowance of €12,000 for Dublin TDs to almost €38,000 for those furthest away will be paid.
It will be sanctioned if attendance is 80% or more of the 150 required days in Leinster House.
(BUT IF IT's CLOSED - you can still claim for being there!!!)

A second public representative allowance will be paid for expenses such as constituency offices, mobile phones, home telephones, newspaper advertising, leaflets, newsletters, relevant conferences and other engagements.

Varying levels apply for Senators, TDs and Ministers - but a TD can get €15,000 a year unvouched and audit free or up to €25,700 vouched with receipts and the risk of an audit.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-rules-for-tds-expenses-unveiled-445660.html#ixzz11zxavuRc

starbelgrade

Biggins wrote: »

They are allowed to claim with having to produce receipts up to a certain figure.
Once they go over that figure, supposedly they have to produce the paperwork

Even those who go for unvouched expenses have to have their receipts in order, in case they are audited, or hell freezes over, whichever comes first.

th3 s1aught3r

starbelgrade wrote: »

Even those who go for unvouched expenses have to have their receipts in order, in case they are audited, or hell freezes over, whichever comes first.

Can I see the receipts ?
I would love to know what Jackie Healey Rae spent 20k on expenses during the summer, WHILE THE DAIL WAS CLOSED

starbelgrade

crixus veritas wrote: »

For those of you near Cork at the time or for those who might take the initiative from the people down South, a response from the People is coming:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=133903089991951

Woo hoo!! A Facebook protest page. That'll sort the bastards out.

Tilt Gone

orourkeda wrote: »

I admire their stones (in the metaphorical sense of course)

You just have to stand back and applaud their complete inhibition when it comes to the stroke. Truly awe inspiring.

Standing back and admiring these gob****es is what has us in this mess in the first place. thank you very much for your contribution to the running of the country.

Biggins

starbelgrade wrote: »

Even those who go for unvouched expenses have to have their receipts in order, in case they are audited, or hell freezes over, whichever comes first.

True. Sadly as we have seen, paperwork can be dodgy and/or questionable at times.
they know how to walk the legal boundary lines as Cally and Co in the Senate has and still is, showing.

To get back to the paper report... claiming for attending Dublin Dail even when closed???

starbelgrade

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

Can I see the receipts ?
I would love to know what Jackie Healey Rae spent 20k on expenses during the summer, WHILE THE DAIL WAS CLOSED

Tweed caps.

MagicMarker

I fúcking hate this country.

starbelgrade

The difference between Irish people & Irish politicians

Joe Soap "Holidays are expensive"

Irish TD "Holidays are expenses"

Biggins

starbelgrade wrote: »

The difference between Irish people & Irish politicians

Joe Soap "Holidays are expensive"

Irish TD "Holidays are expenses"

Well said!
Short and to the point!

TimTim

Revolution9 wrote: »

Actually suprised they're brave enough to do this in the midst of our crumbling economy and the general anger directed at them from the public everyday.

The wonders never cease with these crooks.

Make hay while the sun shines. Although I suspect we will end up re-electing large percentage of these people back in.

Biggins

Well if the the IMF has to come into this country and as part of its mandate, see corruption is more seriously looked at, I will be damn pointing them towards one bloody building in Dublin!

It beggers belief what they are getting away with! It really does!
...And then they tell us YOU AND I HAVE TO CUT BACK again and again and again and again ...for the next four years!!!

Chorizo

So wait. If I scammed 20k from the country what would happen?

Biggins

Chorizo wrote: »

So wait. If I scammed 20k from the country what would happen?

If your Joe Soap: Jail
If your a TD with paperwork (no matter how shoddy it is): Let off with paid suspension for a week or two from the Dail.

OPENROAD

Biggins wrote: »

Well if the the IMF has to come into this country and as part of its mandate, see corruption is more seriously looked at, I will be damn pointing them towards one bloody building in Dublin!

It beggers belief what they are getting away with! It really does!
...And then they tell us YOU AND I HAVE TO CUT BACK again and again and again and again ...for the next four years!!!

Only a couple of weeks we were been told that we have to go out and spend for the economy. I'm very surprised that more has not been made out of this.

Carbon charges already in and possibly water charges etc.. on the way and they want us to go out and spend in a still over priced economy, you couldn't make it up, you really couldn't. A different world.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/cowen-urges-people-to-spend-more-to-offset-economic-setback-474843.html

Craebear

Cement truck gently parked outside the gate? Pah. What we need is one them Al queda fellas to show us how it's done. Incinarate all the TD's and lets have a fresh start.

JJayoo

To many sheep voters

Stephen

Tighten your belts lads, Jackie Healy Rae needs 20 grand for some new tweed caps.

Chorizo

Biggins wrote: »

If your Joe Soap: Jail
If your a TD with paperwork (no matter how shoddy it is): Let off with paid suspension for a week or two from the Dail.

Man im totally in the wrong line of work!

starbelgrade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylY9wlnTdlw

Biggins

Chorizo wrote: »

Man im totally in the wrong line of work!

Ain't we all.

D-Generate

People are wanting change of government but we will still be voting the same shower of eejits. FG might criticize government policies but you never, ever hear them calling for restraint of expenses. As far as I can see they want the exact same benefits that come with being in power and won't dare try and get them removed.
I have never liked Jim Higgins policies but he is the only one in the Dáil who isn't there to milk the system.

If only our politicians had the integrity of Scandinavian politicians, heck even the British MPs paid back their expenses when it was reported.

th3 s1aught3r

D-Generate wrote: »

If only our politicians had the integrity of Scandinavian politicians, heck even the British MPs paid back their expenses when it was reported.

The whole political system in Ireland is rotten to the core
And no, another election will not fix it

i_love_toast

Revolution9 wrote: »

Actually suprised they're brave enough to do this in the midst of our crumbling economy and the general anger directed at them from the public everyday.

The wonders never cease with these crooks.

Thats the problem, everyone directs their anger at the goverment and TD umbrella per say, but no one directs their anger directly at the actual TD's in person.

That said how can we? The only time we see them personally is when their looking for their votes in 18 months time....

i_love_toast

D-Generate wrote: »

People are wanting change of government but we will still be voting the same shower of eejits. FG might criticize government policies but you never, ever hear them calling for restraint of expenses. As far as I can see they want the exact same benefits that come with being in power and won't dare try and get them removed.
I have never liked Jim Higgins policies but he is the only one in the Dáil who isn't there to milk the system.

If only our politicians had the integrity of Scandinavian politicians, heck even the British MPs paid back their expenses when it was reported.

The Scandinavian political system is the best run and one of the most successful system in the world.

The minister for transport is a transport engineer with decades of experience....

The minister for finance is trained accountant....

The minister for health is a medical consultant...

etc etc...

We get farmers and teachers with the rare TD with experience in his field. The political system in Ireland is an actual joke. Would Micheal o Leary hire a farmer to run a section of his company??

Biggins

i_love_toast wrote: »

Thats the problem, everyone directs their anger at the goverment and TD umbrella per say, but no one directs their anger directly at the actual TD's in person.

That said how can we? The only time we see them personally is when their looking for their votes in 18 months time....

As for seeing your elected politician locally, either at your door step or in the streets of your town, thats a rare thing indeed I have found in the last few years. - especially if its a FF one.

Good luck finding your local one after Dec budget!

Biggins

...Speaking on holiday pay:

FORMER Irish Nationwide chief Michael Fingleton claimed almost €450,000 in holiday pay as he exited the ailing building society, the Irish Independent has learned.

Mr Fingleton was paid the sum for "untaken leave" as part of the massive €2.4m package he received from Irish Nationwide Building Society in 2008.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fingleton-got-euro450000-holiday-pay-in-exit-deal-2373644.html

Un-friggin' real.

senordingdong

Biggins wrote: »

...Speaking on holiday pay:

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fingleton-got-euro450000-holiday-pay-in-exit-deal-2373644.html

Un-friggin' real.

What's un-friggin real to me is that while everyone will be outraged by this, it's not illeagal.
All of this crap will be part of his legally binding contract.

Biggins

senordingdong wrote: »

What's un-friggin real to me is that while everyone will be outraged by this, it's not illegal.
All of this crap will be part of his legally binding contract.

Very true and they continue to get perks no matter how bad they are in their job.
The law should be changed so that they are stripped of such payments if they are fired for incompetence - not rewarded more as they exit.

...But I'm taking the thread away from the scandal of the Dail payments, when they officially are not even there!

anthony4335

looks like from that some of our TD's have been using the same accounts ,9 TD's claiming 20180 each eactly.

senordingdong

Biggins wrote: »

Very true and they continue to get perks no matter how bad they are in their job.
The law should be changed so that they are stripped of such payments if they are fired for incompetence - not rewarded more as they exit.

...But I'm taking the thread away from the scandal of the Dail payments, when they officially are not even there!

Would love to see that too.
But then look at that leech Ivor Callely.

If anythign like this was tried Fingleton would have everyone in court, wasting hundred of thousands and would probably come out on top.

Then again, him and every crook like him will keep Fianna Fail in his pockets to prevent any such legislation from being thought up.

wobbles-grogan

I was ultra angry when i read this too. Everyone else in a job doesnt get expenses, we have to pay for our own diesel to get to work (most of us anyway). TD's and senators should too. We need to overhaul our whole system.

senordingdong

wobbles-grogan wrote: »

I was ultra angry when i read this too. Everyone else in a job doesnt get expenses, we have to pay for our own diesel to get to work (most of us anyway). TD's and senators should too. We need to overhaul our whole system.

That's not even the half of it....most of them get chauffered around in fancy anyway. Yet they are claiming travel expenses.
And the worst part is, is that they are doing nothign wrong.

And these rules will never get changed.
We need an outside regulator to correct all this.